The Islamic State has called on its followers in Southeast Asia to fight for the terror group either in Syria or in the Philippines, a recent video showed. Reuters reported that a man in the video, identified by Malaysian authorities as Mohd Rafi Udin, said in Malay: “If you cannot go to [Syria], join up and go to the Philippines”. Udin is a Malaysian militant currently in Syria, according to Reuters.

Another man in the same video who spoke in Filipino mentioned President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. “Mag-ingat kayo at maging malakas, huwag kayong magpadala sa mapanlinlang na taktika ng bagong halal na…si [Rodrigo] Duterte. Sumpain siya ng Allah,” he said.

Read more on Rappler.

European powers demanded a quick divorce Saturday, June 25, as Britain’s seismic vote to abandon the EU sparked bitter break-up rows at home and abroad.

The 6 original EU members – Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – held an emergency meeting in Berlin to grapple with the first defection of the bloc’s 60-year history. “We join together in saying that this process must begin as soon as possible so we don’t end up in an extended limbo period,” said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Read the dispatch from London.

The Philippine government is optimistic that the country can withstand the effects of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), but said Filipinos should not be complacent.

Outgoing Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr expressed confidence that the OFWs’ jobs remain secure. Coloma also reiterated Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s cautious stance, that while the Philippine economy’s good fundamentals would provide insulation, the country should not be overconfident.

Read more on Rappler.

President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday, June 25, delivered his last formal speech as the nation’s leader before the graduating class of his alma mater, Ateneo de Manila University.

The outgoing president took the chance to express gratitude to the university for helping him in the past 6 years of his administration. Aquino likewise thanked his alma mater for all the lessons he learned while in the university.

Read more about the speech on Rappler.

Five new orchid species have been discovered in remote Philippine mountains, protected from poaching because of an insurgency in the region, conservationists said Friday, June 24.

The species are found only in a mountain range on the rebellion-torn Mindanao area in the southern Philippines and have eluded those cataloguing plant life for 200 years, expert Miguel David de Leon told Agence France-Presse.

Learn more about the newly-discovered plants here.
 

China said Saturday that communications with Taiwan had been suspended after the island’s new government failed to acknowledge the concept that there is only “one China”.

Beijing and Taipei have held regular, official communications since 2014, but that has now stopped, according to China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.

Relations between the two sides have grown increasingly frosty since President Tsai Ing-wen won Taiwan’s leadership by a landslide in January and took office in May, ending eight years of rapprochement.

Read more on Rappler.

Gilas Pilipinas had a nightmarish start to its pocket tournament in Bologna, Italy, suffering a 106-70 defeat to Italy at the Land Rover Arena on Saturday, June 25 (Sunday Manila time). The margin of defeat was one-point greater than the Philippines’ 35-point blowout loss to Turkey on June 21.

The Italy game was the Philippines’ last before announcing the final two cuts to trim the roster to 12 players, which will be announced on Sunday, June 26 at 6 pm.

Read more on Rappler.

The Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community reiterated their call for openness and acceptance as they took to the streets for the 22nd celebration of Manila Pride March.

With the theme “Let Love In,” the pride march is the culmination of the groups’ love campaign, which began in 2014 with the theme “Come Out For Love kasi Pag-ibig Pa Rin.”

Check out some of the highlights from the event.

He was 12 years old when he appeared on Ellen DeGeneres’ show, performing the cover that made him a YouTube viral sensation – Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” Now, Greyson Chance is 19 and back with his own music.

He visited Rappler to perform a couple of songs and answer a few questions about how he’s grown and evolved since being discovered by Ellen.

Watch the performances on Rappler.

It looks like Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos have settled their differences after battling it out on Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) Fight Night on Sunday, June 26.

Kiko and Baron settled a fight that broke out at a bar last month with 2 rounds in the mixed martial arts event. The fight ended in a 19-19 draw. Kiko and Baron hugged it out before the results were announced.

Read more and watch the highlights on Rappler.